I was really a bit bored by the end of this book. I just powered through it, hooked really well at the beginning and then I was just trying to finishI was really a bit bored by the end of this book. I just powered through it, hooked really well at the beginning and then I was just trying to finish as the once cohesive story scattered distractingly. 2.5 stars...more

Overall, this was a good collection of short stories. As to be expected, there are some which are much better than others, though this is a good introOverall, this was a good collection of short stories. As to be expected, there are some which are much better than others, though this is a good intro to the dystopic and post-apocalyptic genres, particularly taking into account the editors' forward and afterward. ...more

This was a well-composed, stark post-apocalyptic novel filled with much contemplation, set forth with brilliant prose. It's not as stark as The Road,This was a well-composed, stark post-apocalyptic novel filled with much contemplation, set forth with brilliant prose. It's not as stark as The Road, but still with its darkness....more

I really enjoyed it. In fact, I could hardly put it down. I found every excuse to keep going with it.

There will be a more detailed review later, but sI really enjoyed it. In fact, I could hardly put it down. I found every excuse to keep going with it.

There will be a more detailed review later, but some things I need to mention: it's a great, thrilling adventure novel set in the distant, post-apocalyptic future. It's similar to the subject of The Road meets the narrative style of No Country for Old Men with some of the crazy action of the Mad Max films. I love the narration. This is the prime example of why post-apocalyptic is the new western. The diction is flawless and always surprisingly well chosen. The characterization is exceptional, down to Saba's mulish stubbornness-to-a-fault and Jack's persistent wiliness. I loved it. Saba's character arc is excellently drawn.

I have to deduct a star, though, because of the love triangle. It's a love triangle between Saba, Jack, and Lugh (Saba's brother). The plot is solid: her brother is taken by hooded men and she must save him. Excellent. I'll buy that any day. However, the way that Saba thinks about Lugh is the way that most other books would treat a girl dreaming about her lover. For example: (view spoiler)[during the reunion at the end, I was nearly waiting for them to start kissing passionately. (hide spoiler)] It would be completely understandable for her to go after her brother and save him from death. I love it. However, she consistently describes him as "her light" and waxing poetic over his beauty and how he's her everything. There's a point to which this is understandable: they've grown up isolated from the world with no one but their crazy father and their younger sister who Saba blames for their mother's death. I think that Jack sees that inappropriate relationship, and I wish it had been addressed further. I don't know if it was intentional by the author for that sense to be conveyed, but it was off-putting. (view spoiler)[In the end, Saba seems to have moved past this adoration of her brother, moving her attentions to Jack, but I'd like to have seen it go a bit further. (hide spoiler)]However, that's honestly the single flaw in a nearly flawless novel. I really loved it, and much of that stems from the narrative style and the diction, as well as the incredible sense of place. ["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>...more

I loved this book! It's definitely stylistically quite similar to World War Z, but it's different because of the narrative thread that holds it togethI loved this book! It's definitely stylistically quite similar to World War Z, but it's different because of the narrative thread that holds it together. It was original in many ways, and it drew me in quickly. The only thing I might have hoped for is an expansion of the different stories within the novel itself. I'm curious about the sequel!...more